Bible Commentaries
Micah 4

Verses 1-13

Micah 4:1-3 Comments - Micah 4:1-3 is identical to Isaiah 2:2-4.

Micah 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

Micah 4:4 “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree” - Comments - This phrase came to mean a time of peace and prosperity (1 Kings 4:25, Zechariah 3:10).

1 Kings 4:25, “And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree , from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.”

Zechariah 3:10, “In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree .”

Micah 4:8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

Micah 4:8 “O tower of the flock” Word Study on “the flock” Strong says the Hebrew word “flock” “eder” ( עֵדֶר ) (H5739) means, “an arrangement, a muster (of animals), drove, flock, herd.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 38 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as “flock 32, drove 4, herds 2.”

Comments - The phrase “O tower of the flock” occurs on once in the Old Testament. It is also translated “Migdal-eder” ( JPS, Rotherham), “tower of Eder” ( YLT), and “watchtower of the flock” ( God’sWord). John Gill and others believe that phrase refers to a place in Israel called the “Tower of Eder (Edor),” which is located just outside of the city of Bethlehem. It is believed to be indicative of the birthplace of David, as well as that of the Messiah, as Micah later indicates in his prophecies (Micah 5:2). [10]

[10] John Gill, Micah, in John Gill’s Expositor, in e-Sword, v. 7.7.7 [CD-ROM] (Franklin, Tennessee: e-Sword, 2000-2005), comments on Micah 4:8.

Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Another view suggests that the “tower of the flock” symbolizes the city Jerusalem, which described as a vantage point by which God oversees and protects His sheep, the people of Israel (compare Micah 2:12). [11] Thus, the two phrases “O tower of the flock” and “the stronghold of the daughter of Zion” would stand in apposition and both refer to Jerusalem.

[11] Adam Clarke, Micah, in Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database (Seattle, WA: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., 1996), in P.C. Study Bible, v. 3.1 [CD-ROM] (Seattle, WA: Biblesoft Inc., 1993-2000), notes on Micah 4:8.

Micah 2:12, “I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.”

Micah 4:8 “the stronghold of the daughter of Zion” Comments - It is generally agreed that the phrase “the stronghold of the daughter of Zion” is indicative of the city Jerusalem, where David ruled and where the Messiah will one day rule and reign over all the earth, as is indicated in the previous verse (Micah 4:7).

Micah 4:8 “unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” Comments - One modern English paraphrases this statement to read, “your former government will come back to you. The kingdom will return to the people of Jerusalem.” ( God’sWord)